Tank inlet device



Aug. 6, 1935. c. R. SPARKS 2,010,445

TANK INLET DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1953 L &,

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filling pipes.

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES] TANK INLET DEVICE Charles Randall Sparks, San Diego, Calif; as

signor of one-third'to Thomas G. Burt and one-third to D. M. Parks, both of San Diego,

Calif.

Application December 26, 1933, Serial No. 703,907

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in filling devices for gasoline tanks and the like, wherein protecting screens may be utilized without danger of being broken by careless handling of Among the salient objects of my invention are; first, to provide a filling device of this nature that is adapted for insertion and retention in standard gasoline tanks and the like, and usually without requiring any considerable changes in the latter; second, to aiford convenient means for positively positioning such a device against accidental displacement; third, to supply a device of this kind wherein the previously used cap for the filling nozzle of the tank may continue to be used, after the installation of the device; and, fourth, to accomplish the above means by very simple and relatively inexpensive construction.

My objects are attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a gasoline tank with my invention installed therein, certain parts of the latter being shown broken away, or in central section, for convenience of illustration; and

Figure 2 is a side elevation, in central section, of a modified form of the inlet end of my device, in cooperative relation to the nozzle of a gasoline tank and the cap therefor.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout both views.

In the case of storage tanks, and particularly automobile gasoline tanks and the like, it is very desirable to be able to screen out dirt and other foreign substances, that otherwise might come into the tank while it is being filled. However, screening devices have hitherto been so diilicult to protect from careless handling of filling pipes, that, as a matter of practice, they usually have been dispensed with. I have provided improved means for screening that overcomes the difiiculties mentioned, and that may be installed in standard tanks with very slight, if any, changes or adjustments.

In the drawing, fragments of an automobile gasoline tank are shown in central section at 5; and the filling nozzle of the tank is indicated at 6. Several kinds of caps commonly are used on the filling nozzles of gasoline tanks, of which I have indicated two of the more common types, at 1 and 8 respectively. So far as is known to me, all caps for filling nozzles of gasoline tanks are of the same genus as one or the other of the caps illustrated; that is, they engage either the interior or exterior of the nozzle.

My invention comprises a suitable short length of perforated tubing 9, preferably having a large number of narrow, longitudinally extending, peripheral orifices ll. Around the outer periphery of the tubing, enclosing all flow passages therethrough, is a wire gauze screen l2 of suitable mesh, closely fitting the tube and preferably attached to it. The overall diameter of the tube withits enclosing screen, should be somewhat less than the internal diameter of filling nozzle 6, so that the device may be inserted therein. The upper extremity of the tube, however, should closely fit the bore of the nozzle, so as to secure the benefit of positioning in this way. This can be easily accomplished by expanding the upper end of the tube, as indicated at I3.

The lower end of tube 8 should be provided with convenient means for engaging the adjacent wall of tank 5, to definitely position this end of the device, and to keep it from vibrating in service. For this purpose, it is convenient to internally dent tank 5, as by means of a hammer blow upon a suitable round nose tool, in the manner indicated at M; and to use a spring-constrained button l5 that is adapted to fit into the dent, and to thus position the adjacent end of the device. In Fig. 1, I have illustrated such a button as being at the lower end of a short axially slidable rod l 6, the latter being positioned and guided by a dished washer I! that is attached to the lower extremity of tube 9. A helical compression spring l8 tends to force pin IE downwardly, so as to cause button l5 to engage dent I4.

To prevent accidental displacement of my device after it has been inserted in a tank nozzle,

I find it convenient to make use of a plurality of finger springs l9. These are attached at their lower ends, to the interior surface of the upper end of tube 9, as by soldering. These springs have fingers 2! extending laterally through slots 22 in the upper wall of the tube. When the device is to be inserted in a tank nozzle, fingers 2| may be pressed inwardly, so that the whole device can slide downwardly into the nozzle. As soon as fingers 2! pass the inner surface of tank 5, they will spring outwardly and lock the device in place, as shown in Fig. l, acting in the manner of snap catches. The device can be withdrawn, if desired, by inserting a pointed tool such as a wire brad, underneath the upper ends of the finger springs, and thereby move them inwardly far enough to disengage the tank wall.

When the filling cap of the tank is supplied with locking means that are adapted to cooperate with lugs on the inner surface of the tank nozzle,

such lugs should be removed and be replaced within the upper end of tube 9; by resoldering or otherwise, in corresponding positions, as indicated at 23. Such lugs will then continue to cooperate with the cap, as they did before.

Most filling caps either are adapted for gripping the outer surface of the filling nozzle, or to be screwed thereupon, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 2. When such caps are used, I prefer to provide the 10 upper end of my device with an external flange,

as shown at 24. This flange is adapted for being gripped by filling cap 8, and for thus positioning the upper end of my invention. In this case, obviously, finger springs l9 are not required.

It will be plain from the foregoing, that the construction I have described provides satisfactory means for screening storage tanks, and for thoroughly protecting the screens against damage by reason of careless handling of filling pipes. It should be noted that my device leaves no inlet passage to the storage tank unscreened.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

In combination; a tank having a filling nozzle and an outwardly extending indentation in its internal wall directly opposite the nozzle; and a filling tube within the tank and removable through said nozzle; the inner extremity of said tube being provided with a spring constrained button engaging said indentation, and the outer extremity of the tube being positioned by said nozzle; and said tube having a closed inner end and externally screened perforations in its lateral wall.

CHARLES RANDALL SPARKS. 

